Ice skate



Oct. 31, 1939. c, JOHNSON 2,178,424

ICE SKATE Filed June 7, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 och 1939.

c. I. JOHNSON 2,178,424

ICE SKATE I Filed June 7, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 31, 1939TENT o FCE ICE SKATE Charles I. Johnson, Chicago, Ill., assignor toNestor Johnson Mfg. 00., Chicago, 111., a corporation of IllinoisApplication June 7, 1937, Serial No. 146,731

8 Claims.

, The present invention relates generally to ice skates. Moreparticularly the invention relates to that type of ice skate which isdesigned to be permanently attached to a shoe and comprises 5; as themain or essential parts thereof an elongated separately formed runnerand a frame which serves to hold. the runner in place and support theshoe and consists of a pair of complemental one-piece stamped metalsections each 10; of which is shaped. to form (1) an elongated base parthaving a longitudinally extending inwardly facing groove in its centralportion and having the bottom portion thereof, that is, the

portion beneath the grooved central portion, latlo; erally deflected toform a seat for the upper portion of the runner; (2) an upstandingweblike front part with the upper portion thereof extending outwardly atright angles and forming a plate-piece for engaging and supporting the205016 portion of the shoe; and (3) a web-like rear part projectingupwardly from the rear end of the lower and having the upper portionthereof extending outwardly at right angles to form a plate-piece forengaging and supporting the 25 heel portion of the shoe.

One object of the invention is to provide an ice skate of this typewhich not only is an improvement upon, and more durable than, previouslydesigned ice skates of the same general character, but also is strongerand lighter and may be produced at a lower cost.

Another object of the invention is to provide an ice skate of the typeunder consideration in which the runner holding and shoe supportingframe embodies a metallic tube which fits within and extendslongitudinally of the grooves in the central portions of the base partsof the frame sections and operates-to hold the sections against relativevertical displacement as well as to render 4 them rigid and form anabutment or shoulder for the upper edge of the runner.

Another object of the invention is to provide an ice skate of theaforementioned type and character in which the web-like front and rearparts of the frame sections are shaped to form substantially verticalchannels between them and have separately formed metallic tubular strutswhich fit snugly within the channels and serve to reinforce the web-likefront and rear parts 0 against lateral bending or deflection and also toprevent relative longitudinal displacement of the frame sections.

A further object of the invention is to provide a skate of the typehereinbefore referred to in 55 which the plate pieces which are formedby the upper portionsof the web-like front and rear parts of the framesections are deflected to form transversely extending wells thereacrossand have cup-shaped members which fit within and extend across the wellsand form bridges whereby the plate pieces of one frame section arecross-connected to the plate pieces of the other section.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an ice skate ofthe type and character here under consideration in which the tubularstruts in the substantially vertically extending channels between theweb-like front and rear parts of the frame sections extend between andengage the cup-shaped members in the wells and the tube between thebase-parts of the frame sections and serve to transmit the weight of theperson wearing the skate from such cup-shaped members to the tube andthus distribute the users weight as far as the supporting frame andrunner are concerned.

In addition it is contemplated as one of the objects of the invention toprovide a skate of the sectional frame type which is generally of newand improved design.

Other objects of the invention and the various advantages andcharacteristics of the present ice skate will be apparent from aconsideration of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which arehereinafter set forth and are 7 more particularly defined by claims atthe conclusion hereof.

In the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification ordisclosure and in which like numerals of reference denote correspondingparts throughout the several views:

Figure l is a perspective showing a skate embodying the invention with ashoe applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a perspective of the skate without the shoe;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the skate without the cup-shaped memberswhich normally fit within and extend transversely across the wells inthe plate-pieces which are formed by the upper portions of the web-likefront and rear parts of the frame sections.

Figure 4 is a perspective of one of the frame sections;

Figure 5 is a perspective of the other frame section;

Figure 6 is a perspective of the metallic tube which fits within andextends longitudinally of the grooves in the central portions of thebase parts of the frame sections and operates to hold the sectionsagainst relative vertical displacement as well as to render them rigidand form an abutment or shoulder for the upper edge of the runner;

Figure '7 is a vertical transverse sectional view showing the manner inwhich the tube fits within the grooves in the central portions of thebase parts of the frame sections and forms an abutment for the upperedge of the runner;

Figure 8 is a vertical transverse sectional view showing the manner inwhich the metallic tubular struts in the channels between the weblikefront and rear parts of the frame sections serve to transmit load orweight from the cupshaped members in the wells to the tube in thegrooves in the base parts of the frame sections;

Figure 9 is a horizontal section through the web-like front and rearparts of the frame sections;

Figure 10 is a perspective of one of the cupshaped members which fitwithin and extend across the wells and form bridges whereby the platepieces of one frame section are cross connected to the plate pieces ofthe other frame section; and

Figure 11 is a perspective of one of the tubular struts.

The ice skate which is shown in the drawings constitutes the preferredembodiment of the invention. It is permanently connected, as hereinafterdescribed, to a shoe S and comprises an elongated runner l2 and a framel3. The runner is formed of steel or any other suitable material. It isnarrow and has an ice engaging bottom edge i l and a frame engagingupper edge IS. The front and rear ends of the runner are curved upwardlyso that the extremities thereof will not dig into the ice or otherwiseimpede the user of the skate during skating. The frame l3 serves, ashereinafter described, to hold the runner I2 in place and is attachedto, and serves as a support for, the shoe S. It is of sectional designand consists of a pair of one-piece complemental sections it and H.

The frame section is is in the form of a metal stamping and is shaped toform an elongated base part it, a web-like front part I9 and a web-likerear part 26. The base part l8 of the frame section 56 is substantiallycoextensive with the runner i2 and has an inwardly facing longitudinalgroove 2! in the central portion thereof. This groove is formed bydeflecting the central portion of the base part [8 outwards and extendsfrom a point slightly inwards of the front end of the base part it to apoint slightly inwards of the rear end of said base part, as shown inFigure 4. It is tapered from the front end thereof to its rear end andis V-shaped in crosssection. The bottom portion of the base part [8 isdeflected so that it is laterally offset and forms an elongatedseat-forming member 22 for the runner and also an arcuate shoulder 23 atthe front end of the member 22 and an arcuate shoulder 24 at the rearend of said member. The seat forming member 22 fits against and iswelded to the upper portion of one of the side faces of the runner andthe shoulders 23 and 24 are shaped conformably to and bear against thefront and rear portions of the upper edge l of the runner 12respectively. The front part 19 projects upwardly from the front portionof the base part I8 of the frame section i5 and its upper portion isbent outwards at right angles to form a platepiece 25. This piece isshaped to conform to one side of the sole portion of the shoe S and hasa series of holes 25 along the margin thereof for rivets or attachingdevices (not shown) which serve permanently to connect the shoe to theplate-piece 25. The web-like rear part 20 projects upwardly from therear portion of the base part [8 of the frame section l6. It is spacedfrom the web-like front part i 8 and has the upper portion thereof bentlaterally outwards at right angles to form a plate piece 2'5. This platepiece is shaped to conform to one-half of the heel portion of the shoe Sand has holes 28 which extend vertically therethrough and accommodaterivets or other attaching devices for securing the heel portion of theshoe in fixed relation with the plate piece 21.

The frame section ll, like the frame section it is in the form of ametal stamping. It fits against and forms the complement of the sectionl6 and consists of an elongated base part 29, an upstanding web-likefront part 30, and an upstanding web-like rear part M. The base part 23fits against and is welded to the base part H! of the frame section itand is deflected so that the central portion thereof embodies alongitudinally extending inwardly facing groove 32 and its bottom orlower portion forms a laterally offset seat-forming member 33 with anarcuate shoulder 34 at its front end and an arcuate shoulder 35 at itsrear end. The seat-forming member 33 is disposed directly opposite tothe seat forming member 22 of the base part it of the frame section itand is welded to the upper portion of the adjacent face of the runner[2. The shoulder 34 is disposed directly opposite to the shoulder andabuts against the front por tion of the upper edge 15 of the runner l2.The shoulder 34 at the rear end of the seat forming member 33 isdisposed directly opposite and conforms in shape to the shoulder 26 andrests against the rear portion of the upper edge l5 of the runner E2.The groove 32 is disposed in opposed relation with and opens onto thegroove 2! and it like the latter is tapered from the front end thereofto its rear end and is V-shaped in cross-section. The upstandingweb-like front part 30 of the frame section ll fits against and issuitably secured to the web-like front part !9 of the frame section l5and has its upper portion bent outwardly at right angles to form a platepiece 35. The latter is in the form of a complement of the plate-piece25 and embodies holes 3'! inwardly of the margin or edge thereof. It isshaped conformably to the other side of the sole portion of the shoe andis fixed to such side by way of rivets or like attaching devicesextending through the holes 3?. The web-like rear part 3| of the framesection ll is disposed opposite and welded to the rear part 3! of theframe section l5 and has its upper end bent laterally at right angles toform a plate-piece 38. The latter engages and supports the other half ofthe heel portion of the shoe S and has holes 39 for attaching devicesnot shown. It is positioned in opposed relation with respect to theplate-piece 2'! and is in the form of the latters complement. The pieces25 and 3G constitute a sole plate for the frame and the pieces 21 and 33constitute a heel plate for the frame.

In order to reinforce and render rigid the frame sections G and ii andto hold the sections against relative vertical displacement a metallictube 43 is provided. This tube fits within and extends longitudinally ofthe grooves 2i and 32 in the base parts of the frame sections. It iscircular in cross-section and as shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8 is tapered.from the front endthereof to the rear end like the grooves 2| and 32.The bottom portion of the tube overlies and engages the upper edge E5 ofthe runner l2 and forms an abutment whereby the weight which issustained or supported by the central portion of the frame i3 istransmitted to the central portion of the runner l2. The externaldiameter of the tube is such that the tube is in firm contact with thecentral portions of the base parts of the frame sections.

The lower portions of the web-like front parts l9 and 30 of the framesections, that is, the portions between the plate-pieces 25-and 36 andthe front endsof the base parts It! and 29 of said sections aredeflected to form a pair of substantially vertically extending channels4! between the front parts l9 and 30. These channels extend downwardlyfrom the plate pieces 25 and 36 and intersect and communicate with thefront ends of the grooves 2| and 32. They are shaped, as shown in Figure9, so that the front portions thereof are wider than the rear portions,and have tubular struts 42 therein. These struts are formed of metal andare of sufficient cross-section that they conform to or fit snugly orsecurely within the channels. The lower ends of the struts rest on thefront end of the reinforcing tube M, as shown in Figure 8. The tubes arepreferably formed ofv seamless tubing and serve to prevent lateralbending or deflection of the web-like front parts 59 and 30 of the framesections and also to prevent relative longitudinal displacement of theframe sections. The central portions of the web-like rear parts 2!) and3! of the frame sections are deflected outwards to form a substantiallyvertically extending channel 43. This channel extends downwards from theplatepieces 21 .and 38 and intersects and communicates with the rearends of the grooves 2i and 32 of the base parts of the frame sections.It is similar in cross-section to the channels 4| between the web-likefront parts of the frame sections and has a tubular reinforcing strut 44therein. This strut is formed of metal and corresponds in cross-sectionto the channel 43. The

lower end of the strut rests on the rear end of the reinforcing tube 30.The strut M serves to prevent lateral bending or deflection of theweblike rear parts 20 and 3i of the frame sections and assists thetubular struts 42 in preventing relative longitudinal displacement ofthe frame sections.

The sole plate forming pieces 25 and 36 which are formed by the upperportion of the web-like front parts 59 and 3B of the frame sections aredeflected at the central portions thereof to form a pair of wells 45.These wells extend transversely across the pieces 25 and 3t andpreferably the front portions thereof are deeper than the rear portions.A pair of cup-shaped members G6 are associated with and fit within thewells 35 and form bridges whereby the pieces 25 and 36 arecross-connected. These members are in the form of metal stampings andare shaped conformably to the wells. The margins of the members extendupwards, as shown in Figure 10, for strengthening purposes and are flushwith the top faces of the plate-pieces 25 and 36, as shown in Figure 2.The wells overlie and communicate with the upper ends of the channels 4!and the upper ends of the tubular struts 42 engage or abut against thecentral portions of the cupshaped members 46. As a result of the factthat the upper ends of the struts 42 abut against the central portionsofthe cup-shaped members a portion of the weight of the person wearing theskate is transmitted from the members 45 to the reinforcing tube 40,which in turn serves to dis,- tribute the load or weight throughout theframe and the runner. The members 46 may, if desired, be welded in the.wells or placed loosely therein and held in place by the sole portion ofthe shoe S. The heel plate-forming pieces 21 and 38 arecentrallydeflected to form a well 47. This well extends transversely across thetwo plates and its front portion is deeper than its rear portion, asshown in Figure 4. A cup-shaped member 48 is shaped conformably to, andfits within, the well 41 and serves to bridge or cross-connect the platepieces 21 and 38. This member 48 is in the form of a metal stamping andhas an upstanding margin which serves to reinforce the member as a wholeand is flush at its upper edge to the top faces of the pieces 21 and 38.The well 47 overlies andcommunicates with the upper end of thechannel 33and the upper end of the strut M in the channel 43 encases the centralportion of the cup-shaped member 43 and transmits load from the latterto the rear end of the tube 40. The cup-shaped members 46 and 48 servein addition to cross-connecting the pieces which form the sole and heelplates of the frame l3 to assist the struts 42 and 44 in holding theframe sections l9 and 38 against relative longitudinal displacement.

The herein described ice skate, due to the reinforcement that isafforded by the tube 40, the struts 42 and M, and the cup-shaped members46 and 68, is able to withstand great shock without claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. As a new article of manufacture, an ice skate comprising a shoesupporting frame composed of a pair of separately formed comple mentalstamping formed sections fixed together in opposed relation and havingpieces at the top thereof forming sole and heel plates for the shoe andalso having elongated base parts with the central portions thereofdeflected outwards to form longitudinal inwardly facing taperedsubstantially full length registering grooves, an elongated runnersecured to the bottom portions of said base parts of the frame sectionsbeneath the grooves, and an elongated element, fitting snugly in andtapered correspondingly to the grooves and serving to reinforce theframe and also to prevent relative displacement of the frame sections.

2. As a new article of manufacture, an ice skate comprising a shoesupporting frame composed of a pair of separately formed complementalsections fixed together inside by side relation and having pieces at thetop thereof. forming sole and heel plates for the shoe and also havingelongated base parts with longitudinally extending inwardly facinggrooves in the central portions thereof and their bottom portions offsetlaterally in opposite directions, an elongated runner extendinglengthwise of the frameand having the upper portion thereof fittingbetween the bottom portions of the base parts of the frame sections, andan elongated separately formed element fitting snugly in and extendinglongitudinally of the grooves and resting on the upper edge of therunner and serving to reinforce the frame and also to prevent relativevertical displacement of the frame sections and to transmit load fromsaid sections to the runner.

3. As a new article of manufacture, an ice skate comprising an elongatedshoe supporting frame having a heel plate at its rear end and consistingof a pair of separately formed complemental sections fixed together inopposed relation and embodying elongated base parts and a pair ofabutting web-like parts projecting upwards from the front ends of saidbase parts and having a sole plate at the top thereof and asubstantially vertic-ally extending channel between them, an elongatedrunner secured to and extending longitudinally of the base parts of theframe sections, and a separately formed strut fitting in the channel andserving to reinforce said web-like parts against bending laterally andalso to prevent relative longitudinal displacement of the framesections.

4. As a new article of manufacture, an ice skate comprising an elongatedshoe supporting frame having a heel plate at its rear end and consistingof a pair of separately formed complemental sections fixed together inopposed relation and embodying elongated base parts with longitudinallyextending inwardly facing grooves in the central 1 portions thereof andtheir bottom portions offset laterally in opposite directions and, inaddition embodying a pair of web-like parts projecting upwards from thefront ends of said base parts and having a sole plate at the top thereofand a substantially vertical channel between them and leading to andcommunicating with the front portions of said grooves, an elongatedrunner extending longitudinally of the frame and having the upperportion thereof fitting between the bottom portions of the base parts ofthe frame sections, an elongated separately formed reinforcing elementfitting snugly in and extending longitudinally of the grooves andresting on the upper edge of the runner and serving to reinforce theframe sections and also to prevent vertical displacement of saidsections one relatively to the other, and a separately formed strutfitting in the channel and resting on the front end of the reinforcingelement and serving to reinforce said web-like parts against bendinglaterally and also to prevent relative longitudinal displacement of theframe sections and transit load to the runner via said reinforcingelement.

5. As a new article of manufacture, an ice skate comprising an elongatedshoe supporting frame having a sole plate at its front end andconsisting of a pair of separately formed complemental sections fixedtogether in opposed relation and embodying elongated opposed base partsand opposed web-like parts projecting upwards from the rear ends of saidbase parts and having a heel plate at the top thereof and asubstantially vertically extending channel between them, an elongatedrunner secured to and extending longitudinally of the base parts of theframe sections, and a separately formed strut fitting in the channel andserving to reinforce said web-like parts against bending laterally andalso to prevent relative longitudinal displacement of the framesections.

6. As a new article of manufacture, anice skate comprising an elongatedshoe supporting frame having a sole plate at its front end andconsisting of a pair of separately formed complemental sections fixedtogether in side-by-side relation and embodying elongated opposed baseparts with longitudinally extending inwardly facing grooves in thecentral portions thereof and their bottom portions offset laterally inopposite directions and also embodying opposed web-like parts projectingupwards from the rear ends of the base parts and having a heel plate atthe top thereof and a substantially vertical channel between them andleading to and communicating with the rear ends of the grooves, anelongated runner extending longitudinally of the frame and having theupper portion thereof fitting between the bottom portions of the baseparts of the frame sections, an elongated separately formed reinforcingelement fitting snugly in and extending longitudinally of the groovesand resting on the upper edge of the runner and serving to reinforce theframe sections and to prevent relative vertical displacement of thelatter, and a separately formed strut fitting in the channel and restingon the rear end of the reinforcing element and serving to reinforce saidweb-like parts and prevent them from bending laterally and also toprevent relative longitudinal displacement of the frame sections andtransmit load to the runner via said element.

'7. As a new article of manufacture, an ice skate comprising anelongated shoe supporting frame consisting of a pair of separatelyformed complemental sections fixed together in side-by-side relation andembodying elongated opposed base parts with longitudinally extendinginwardly facing grooves in the central portions thereof and their bottomportions offset laterally in opposite directions, and also embodyingopposed web-like parts projecting upwards from the front ends of saidbase parts and having a sole plate at the top thereof and asubstantially vertical channel extending between them and leading to andcommunicating with the front ends of the grooves and opposed web-likepart-s projecting upwards from the rear ends of the base parts andhaving a heel plate at the top thereof and a substant ally verticalchannel extending between them and communicating with the rear ends ofthe grooves, an elongated runner extending longitudinally of the frameand having the upper portion thereof fitting between and secured to thebottom portions of the base parts of the frame sections, an elongatedreinforcing element fitting snugly in and extending lengthwise of thegrooves and resting on the upper edge of the runner and serving toprevent relative vertical displacement of the frame sections, andreinforcing struts fitting in said channels with the lower ends thereofresting on the reinforcing element and serving to prevent relativelongitudinal displacement of the frame sections and also to transmitload to the runner via said element.

8. As a new article of manufacture, an ice skate comprising an elongatedsupporting frame composed of a pair of complemental sections fixedtogether in side-by-side relation and embodying elongated base partswith longitudinally extending inwardly facing grooves therein and alsoembodying opposed web-like parts extending upwards from the base partsand having a channel between the centralportions thereof incommunication at its lower end with the grooves and their upper endsshaped to form oppositely extending shoe engaging pieces with a wellextending transstrut fitting in the channel with the lower end thereofresting on the reinforcing element, and a reinforcing member fitting inand extending transversely across the well and arranged so that it restson the upper end of the strut and serves to cross-connect the shoeengaging pieces and also to transmit the load from the shoe to therunner via the strut and said reinforcing element.

CHARLES I. JOHNSON.

